Co-Winner of the 2004 Colorado Endowment for the Humanities Publication Prize

Cloth with dust jacket, 6x9", 232 pages, 15 b/w illus., index.

"High Altitude Energy: A History of Fossil Fuel in Colorado is a timely, articulate history of coal, coke, oil, gas, and oil shale extraction and production in Colorado.

"Scamehorn examines the origin, evolution, and social and economic impacts of these industries in Colorado. He treats each of the fuel sources separately from their discoveries and initial production in the nineteenth century through the energy crisis of the 1970’s and up to twenty-first century energy concerns. In detailing the state’s long history of fossil fuel production, Scamehorn thoroughly dissects arguments and conclusions about the domestic energy shortages during the decades since the Second World War.

"Today’s readers—faced with either ever-increasing energy costs or controversial plans to drill in national wildlife refuges—will be impressed by the timeliness of Scamehorn’s analysis of the failure of the U.S. government to achieve energy independence."